MSNS Thesis & Non-Thesis Options

Thesis Option: A minimum of 30 graduate credit hours required including 24 hours of graduate course work within the college, with exactly 18 hours in a single area or discipline. Three hours each of thesis research (589) and thesis writing (590) will be taken above the 18 hour requirement. Six of the 30 hours must be from outside the student’s discipline. Students pursing the thesis option will be required to successfully complete a comprehensive examination based on their area(s) of study and to defend the thesis. The exam may be written, oral, or a combination of the two methods.

Non-Thesis Option: A minimum of 36 graduate credit hours required including 24 hours of graduate course work within the college, with exactly 18 hours in a single discipline. A maximum of 12 credit hours of graduate work from an area external to the College of Sciences and Mathematics may be included in completing the degree requirements. Students in the non-thesis option will be required to successfully complete a capstone project as well as a comprehensive examination based on their area(s) of study. The exam may be written, oral, or a combination of the two methods.

Students pursuing the M.S. in Natural Sciences will be assessed through traditional measures (tests, labs, projects, etc.) as they progress through their required course work. Since the M.S. in Natural Sciences is inherently interdisciplinary, each student’s program of study will be planned in consultation with his or her committee and located in the Dean’s administrative office. Progress toward completion will be monitored by the committee.